After working odd hours, feel a bit out of touch with the world. Just wondering why the bells are ringing at St. Michael's. It can't be just because I made it home!?!
Amanda Odonnell ● 2033d12 Comments
Not the Angelus, surely?
Paul Corcoran ● 2033d
St Nicholas too
Susan Jacques ● 2033d
Duke of Edinburgh?
Ken Munn ● 2033d
Who knows, church bells seem to peal at random times. Presumably at private events - weddings etc - but also at more archaic Church historical markers. But I had the joy some months ago of walking the dogs in Southfield Playing fields and hearing this amazing and beautiful cacophony of bells coming from the Acton area - maybe from the church whose steeple you can see in the distance from the playing fields. It was so incredibly beautiful I just sat down and listened.
Claire Moran ● 2033d
It could have been a rehearsal, I know a couple of people who are local bellringers. If so, it was wonderful.
The bells just before 6pm yesterday across the country were for the Duke of Edinburgh. There were services in lots of churches including St Nicks at 6pm
Chris Lucy ● 2032d
Certainly wasn't the Angelus. Around 6pm sounds about the time I made it home. I'm guessing it was a memorial peal. It did seem to go on for a few minutes. Mystery solved, methinks!
Amanda Odonnell ● 2032d
The church bells tolling at St. Nicholas were half-muffled (so you could hear a clear dong then a quieter one). Muffling bells is done for funerals, Remembrance Day or in this case, almost certainly marking the death of the Duke of Edinburgh. (From a former bell ringer.)
Miranda Robinson ● 2031d
It was certainly a more muffled sound. I'll be sure to take more notice from now on, thank you.
Amanda Odonnell ● 2031d
How is it done - go up the tower and wrap the clappers in rags, put something around the bells to cut down on the reverbs? Just interested.
Ken Munn ● 2031d
http://www.learningtheropes.org/resources/learning-tips/muffling
Joanna Biddolph ● 2031d
Bell ringers do practice change ringing of their Great Toms and Bobs, or they used to? Should be heard more often - such a lovely sound. Used to hear them frequently as a child growing up in the sticks during walks discerning faraway bell peals fading and returning on gusty wind currents.
Bobbie Carnegie ● 2031d